Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer’s political action committee has announced that it will spend up to $100 million attacking Republicans in seven key states this election.
The targets are Republicans that Mr. Steyer’s environmentalist super PAC, NextGen Climate Action, deems climate-change “deniers,” including GOP Senate candidates Scott Brown in New Hampshire, Cory Gardner in Colorado, Joni Ernst and Mark Jacobs in Iowa, and Terri Lynn Land in Michigan.
The group is also going after GOP Govs. Rick Scott of Florida, Paul LePage of Maine and Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania.
“Our goal is very clear — to impact the politics as it relates to climate change,” Chris Lehane, Mr. Steyer’s political adviser, told MSNBC.
Mr. Steyer, a California hedge fund manager, had promised to spend $100 — including $50 million out of his own pocket — to combat candidates supporting construction of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.
Environmentalists oppose the pipeline because they fear oil spills and the added greenhouse gases that will be produced when the oil reaches Texas refineries.
The super PAC’s media campaign is designed to demonize Republican candidates as anti-science and energize the Democratic base, such as women and young voters, to get to the polls in what are typically low-turnout elections, Mr. Lehane said.
The effort could impact the battle for control of the U.S. Senate this year, as Democrats try to fend off a Republican push to pick up six net seats to seize the majority in the chamber.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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